Especially when they were 22-0 up.

 

Pumas no push overs either, could be an interesting series instead of a procession.

 

Ellis Park too!! The crowd went very silent.

There's 4 or 5 absolutely outstanding players in that Wallabies squad but the pleasing thing is how they are always prepared to roll the dice and back themselves, even in the conditions of the last Lions test they'll do it. The Wallabies are a much better side for having played that series.

One thing about the RC is the weird mini tour format as opposed to home and away, which means the Wallabies have to do it all again next week in SA. I'm not writing them off but SA might not do so well this time around as they have 2 games in NZ.

 

Well played the Pumas, just goes to show maybe the 2025 Lions were pretty good after all, some said they should not have lost to Argentina or Australia, but the results tell a different tale.

 

The Lions test team got better as it went but in fairness to them not as fast as either Australia or Argentina. Lets not forget the chatter before the bus set off that the Wallabies should be dropped from the Lions schedule, in the end they were pretty fortunate (and the Wallabies it turned out pretty badly prepared)

I've got a soft spot for Los Pumas, out of all of them (and maybe Fiji) they seem to do more with less - surely what it's really all about. I'd love to go down there and follow a tour down the country and maybe head down to Tierra del Fuego for some fishing afterwards.

 

Buried deep beneath the results for the International Tiddlywinks Championship and adjacent to the report on the draw for next months Whipsnades Monkey Tennis Cup I managed to find one BBC mens rugby article (helpfully combining the news of both games involving the 2 top ranked rugby nations in one single report......how efficient of them)

I didn't realise but its now 31 years since the ABs were beaten at Eden Park! SA not good enough on the day and accepting that the discipline slipped - as it often does against well timed ABs pressure. They've got a knack of knowing not only how but when to raise the intensity level to gain maximum effect - it's a real trade mark and always has been. They so often win leaving the other team saying 'we could have won that one' the level of calm and sheer understanding of the game and where and when to play is just a bit different to other teams. Scotland for example do it the other way around

In other news Argentina (what a side they've become) leading until the 86th minute! During the 6 minutes after the final hooter the Wallabies declined 3 consecutive penalties to draw the match and eventually got over. Harry Wilson quoted saying 'everyone believed they could finish the job and if the boys want to win you may as well back them' god bless 'em Though had it gone wrong I think 30 press ups followed by duckwalking the halfway line would have been in their near future.

 

Buried deep beneath the results for the International Tiddlywinks Championship and adjacent to the report on the draw for next months Whipsnades Monkey Tennis Cup I managed to find one BBC mens rugby article (helpfully combining the news of both games involving the 2 top ranked rugby nations in one single report......how efficient of them)

I didn't realise but its now 31 years since the ABs were beaten at Eden Park! SA not good enough on the day and accepting that the discipline slipped - as it often does against well timed ABs pressure. They've got a knack of knowing not only how but when to raise the intensity level to gain maximum effect - it's a real trade mark and always has been. They so often win leaving the other team saying 'we could have won that one' the level of calm and sheer understanding of the game and where and when to play is just a bit different to other teams. Scotland for example do it the other way around

In other news Argentina (what a side they've become) leading until the 86th minute! During the 6 minutes after the final hooter the Wallabies declined 3 consecutive penalties to draw the match eventually got over. Harry Wilson quoted saying 'everyone believed they could finish the job and if the boys want to win you may as well back them' god bless 'em Though had it gone wrong I think 30 press ups followed by duckwalking the halfway line would have been in their near future.

Close games in several rounds now.
Ballsey decision by the Aussies.

 

yeah, you have to respect that!

 

Australia come up short at home, the Pumas are showing the sport can be grown with inclusion at the higher levels.
Rugby Championship: Argentina hold on to claim win against Australia - BBC Sport

 

Ominous!

 

Didn't see the All Blacks being humbled at home in a record defeat either.

 

Been some great games to watch in the championship but worrying to see the South African women's team also doing the bomb squad approach- the sooner all players have to do 80 mins barring injury and say only 3 replacements from 8 on the bench the better.

 

So sad to hear of Lewis Moody's Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis a great player in his time. Wishing him and his family the best i can under the circumstances.
Aled

 

Another very sad day for rugby. It makes me wonder what the future is for the game in its current format although I am not sure what more you could change to prevent big collisions and risk of concussion. A lot of parents will certainly be discouraging their children from playing rugby.

 

Another very sad day for rugby. It makes me wonder what the future is for the game in its current format although I am not sure what more you could change to prevent big collisions and risk of concussion. A lot of parents will certainly be discouraging their children from playing rugby.

Go back to subs only when a player is unable to continue (validated by a doctor).
Players would need to be leaner and more aerobic.
You wouldn't have the issue of huge fresh players colliding with smaller fatigued players.

As an aside, there has been no link made between top end athletes and MND.

Sad to hear of another sufferer in the rugby community.
Best wishes to mad dog.

 

Yes changing sub rules could help.

From what I have read, there is no absolute proven link between rugby and MND although the MND Association acknowledges there is a "correlation" between contact sports and MND and a 2022 study by the University of Glasgow involving 400 former Scotland rugby union players concluded they had an increased risk of developing the condition.

MND of course is just one of the potential conditions, dementia risk is also raised as it is for footballers.

I can't think many mothers will be disappointed if their sons (or daughters) don't play much rugby in the future, particularly at a high level where the collisions are huge.